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ISU IU Virginia Tech Illinois Rose-Hulman Wisconsin UT Austin Ohio State UCSD NC State University of Missouri-Columbia Nebraska| University of Iowa | Purdue University Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Iowa | Purdue | ||
| Location | Iowa City, IA | West Lafayette, IN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 30,015 | 51,528 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #224 | #101 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uiowa.edu | purdue.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Iowa | Purdue | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,711 | $9,718 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,674 | $28,520 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,476 | $10,030 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,587 | $12,576 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,959 | $8,950 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 82% | 48% |
Admission |
Iowa | Purdue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 25,729 | 68,582 | ||
| Admitted | 22,128 | 36,146 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86% | 52.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.4% | 26.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.81 | 3.67 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 22/28 | 27/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1340 | 1200/1470 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | May 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Iowa | Purdue | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Iowa | Purdue | ||
| Graduation Rate | 71% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $59,800 | $61,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 78% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,616 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $223 | $222 |
Diversity |
Iowa | Purdue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 44% | 58% | ||
| % Women | 56% | 42% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 67% | 65% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 12% | 17% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
Iowa | Purdue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 54% | 46% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 45% | 44% | ||
Campus |
Iowa | Purdue | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Purdue University Main Campus is larger than than Iowa based on total student enrollment (51,528 students vs. 30,015 students)
Iowa vs. Purdue Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Iowa or Purdue?
- Purdue University Main Campus is 11.6% more expensive to attend than Iowa for in-state tuition ($9,718.00 vs. $8,711.00)
- Out of state tuition is 7.6% higher at Iowa than Purdue University Main Campus ($30,674.00 vs. $28,520.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Main Campus than Iowa ($12,576 vs. $19,587)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 14.4% lower than costs at University of Iowa ($10,030 vs. $11,476)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Iowa than Purdue University Main Campus (82% vs. 48%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Iowa students is 11.3% larger than aid received Purdue University Main Campus ($9,959 vs. $8,950)
Iowa vs. Purdue Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Iowa or Purdue? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purdue or Iowa .
- The average SAT score at Purdue University Main Campus (1231) is 67 points higher than at Iowa (1164)
- Incoming Purdue students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Iowa (26)
- Accepted freshman Iowa students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.81) than students at Purdue (3.67)
- Iowa has a higher acceptance rate (86%) than Purdue (52.7%)
Iowa vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Iowa or Purdue? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Purdue and Iowa.
- The graduation rate at Iowa is higher than Purdue University Main Campus (71% vs. 68%)
- Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn on average $1,400 more per year than Iowa graduates after ten years. ($61,200 vs. $59,800)
- Purdue University Main Campus students graduate with a $116 lower median federal student loan debt than Iowa graduates. ($21,500 vs. $21,616)
- Purdue graduates are paying $1 less per month on federal student loans than Iowa graduates. ($222 vs. $223)
- More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 70%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/